For Immediate Release Contact:
Barbara K. Laskin/ Doug Stone
May 17, 2005 (651) 696-6203

Portland, Ore., Native Awarded Fulbright Scholarship to Senegal

St. Paul, Minn. - Anna L. Plumb of Portland, Ore., has been awarded a Fulbright scholarship to Senegal. Plumb graduated magna cum laude at Macalester College's 116th Commencement on campus May 14, 2005, receiving a degree in International Studies. She is the daughter of Kay Plumb of Portland, Ore., and Larry Plumb of Beaverton, Ore., and graduated from Lincoln High School.

Fulbright grants are made to U.S. citizens and nationals of other countries for a variety of educational activities, primarily university lecturing, advanced research, graduate study and teaching in elementary and secondary schools. Since the program's inception, more than 250,000 participants --chosen for their leadership potential-- have had the opportunity to observe each other's political, economic and cultural institutions.

Plumb will investigate the intersecting relationships between Islam, marriage and women in both urban and rural Senegal. She will examine marriage ideals as interpreted in Senegalese-Islamic contexts, with particular attention to the phenomenon of early childhood marriage in rural Senegal as compared with the increasing marriage age of urban Senegalese women.

During the Commencement ceremony, Macalester College President Brian Rosenberg presented diplomas to 460 graduating seniors. Edward Hirsch, prize-winning poet, scholar, teacher and foundation president, gave the keynote address.

Macalester is a private or national liberal arts college with a full-time enrollment of 1,845 students. Macalester is nationally recognized for its long-standing commitment to academic excellence, internationalism, diversity and civic engagement.

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